Operation "Chammal" is the name for French military operational contribution during the multinational "Operation Inherent Resolve" in Syria and Iraq in an effort to destroy ISIS (Da'esh). The French operation name is from Shamal (Chammal in French) which is a strong northwesterly wind that blows over these countries.

Designed as a result of the ACX (Avion de Combat Experimentale) program prior to France's withdrawal from the EFA project, the Rafale was first flown on July 4th, 1986. The Rafale is multi-role fighter for the Franch Air Force and Navy, capable of handling missions from reconnaissance to air supremacy to nuclear deterrence. The Rafale built on Dassault's expertise with delta-winged fighter design, adding a forward canard to improve maneuverability and reduce approach speeds for carrier operations. The Rafale's advanced avionics and and limited stealth capabilities are expected to secure it as the primary combat aircraft for the French Air Force and Navy until at least 2040.

Info:    Rafale C - Armee de l'Air, #30-IX, Jordan, Operation Chammal, 2015